Misinformation, anti-science sentiment and vaccine hesitancy have been blamed for a “worrying” decline in Australia’s vaccination rate.
The Australian Medical Association is urging Australians to reverse the trend, warning lives are being needlessly put at risk and emergency departments are being stretched too thin.
Their latest report released on Monday – From reporting to concern: a policy analysis of Australia’s decline in vaccination rates – shows that vaccination rates in child, adolescent and adult programs, as well as seasonal flu vaccination, have all fallen.
AMA president Danielle McMullen said immunization prevents between two and three million deaths a year, but misinformation and anti-science sentiment are eroding public confidence.
“We are seeing increasing global conversations about vaccine hesitancy, and this is putting lives at risk,” Dr. McMullen said.
‘Unfortunately, Australia is not immune, and it is very worrying to see falling rates here, especially among children.’
Vaccination programs have dramatically reduced mortality from disease worldwide.
Since childhood vaccinations were introduced in Australia in 1932, deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases have fallen by 99 percent.
Immunization rates have fallen below government targets required for herd immunity
AMA president Danielle McMullen said GPs are well placed to reassure patients about vaccines
Yet coverage has declined in recent years.
According to Australian Immunization Register data, vaccination rates for two-year-olds are currently around 90 percent.
Coverage rates for one- and five-year-olds have also fallen to 91.63 percent and 93.27 percent.
The figures are below the government’s ambitious target of 95 percent needed to achieve herd immunity for highly infectious diseases.
Dr. McMullen said declining vaccination rates threaten public health and strain the health care system.
“Our hospitals are already at an impasse and operating at or above capacity, and yet nearly 10 percent of preventable admissions are related to vaccine-preventable diseases,” she said.
‘Decreasing coverage is not only putting pressure on our emergency departments; there is also a risk that serious diseases such as measles will reemerge, with life-changing complications.”
Dr. McMullen said GPs are uniquely positioned to reassure people unsure about vaccinations and can help turn the tide in rebuilding confidence in vaccines.
“They are trusted voices in their communities and play a critical role in encouraging vaccination,” she said.
“A simple conversation with your doctor can protect your family, strengthen your community and save lives.”
